29 Aug 2018

In an effort to ease travelling distance of 14km from Letoreng to Mathako, Mahalapye Sub- council authorities are pleading with the community of Letoreng to accept the donkey cart that was donated to transport school going children. 

Mahalapye Sub-council Chairperson, Mr Tassman Cebani made the call on August 27. 

Mr Cebani said although there was a satellite primary school in Letoreng, it only admitted lower level classes. 

He said Standard Four to Standard Seven learners were faced with a challenge of walking the 14km distance to and from Mathako despite the harsh weather conditions. 

As such Councillor Cebani pleaded with Letoreng community to accept the donkey cart for the sake of easing their children’s access to education. 

We must engage parents and make them understand the situation, he said. 

Mr Cebani has informed the ongoing sub council session that with funding from Lions Club, a satellite primary school was opened at Letoreng in the Sefhare/Ramokgonami constituency. 

He said the primary school has to date registered 20 reception class learners, 25 in standard one, 19 children in standard two and 16 pupils for standard three. 

He said the project did not cater for teachers’ accommodation and as such they were still housed at Mathako, adding that teachers would be reimbursed for using their private transport. 

Mr Cebani said the school head at Mathako was also responsible for heading the new primary school at Letoreng. 

Mr Cebani also informed the council session that the ministry of basic education was in the process of establishing another satellite primary school at Setsile. 

However, we have a challenge as the identified site for the project does not meet the compliance standards, he said. 

Mr Cebani said once opened the school will enrol 40 learners currently admitted at Mokoswane and Mokubatse primary schools respectively. 

On other issues under education, Cllr Cebani said in an effort to improve access to education as well as improve performance, reception classes were introduced at 33 of the 52 primary schools in the sub district. 

Even though reception classes were taught by trained teacher aids, Mr Cebani was however of the view they did not meet the minimum requirements outlined in the reception class guidelines. 

Mr Cebani said the project of establishing a hostel facility at Kalamare Junior Secondary School was ongoing. 

He said the hostel would accommodate 180 pupils; 90 being boys and 90 girls. 

The project package will include accommodation for a matron, expansion of the kitchen and administration block, construction of water system toilets, storm water management system and provision of water tanks. 

He added that the project is expected to commence before the end of current financial year and will accommodate students from Mmutlane and Bonwapitse. 

Commenting on the chairman’s address, Cllr Charles Mponang of Kalamare applauded the move to establish a boarding facility at the junior secondary school as it would relief parents of the burden of having to travel long distances to Ramokgonami where their children were currently admitted. He said the trip was costly and time consuming. 

He also appealed to council authorities to ascertain as to when the actual construction of the hostel would start and the anticipated date of completion. 

Cllr Gabogaisanye Malele of Madiba ward in Mahalapye said even though efforts made to improve the standard of education were commendable, it was unfortunate that some students were still taught in the open due to shortage of classrooms. Cllr Malele said Fredrick Maherero Primary School was among the most hardly hit by shortage of classrooms. 

Cllr Joseph Molamu of Mokobeng ward was concerned by the poor state of ablution blocks at Ramokgonami and Mokobeng primary schools. ENDS